Thai immigration authorities have arrested six Nigerian nationals and one Senegalese citizen over alleged visa overstay and immigration offences in Bangkok, with the suspects now facing deportation proceedings.
The arrests followed a targeted enforcement operation conducted in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam Wa district on July 14 as part of Thailand’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal immigration.
The Nigerian suspects were identified as Akachukwu Anikpe, Chineze Emmanuel Onyechere, Mazi Ejiofor Edochie, Emeka Frank Uzoije, Emmanuel Kelechi Ewulu and Ikechukwu Prince Umunna, while the Senegalese national was identified as Christian Tounkara.
According to Thai authorities, the suspects were taken into custody during the operation and transferred to the Min Buri Police Station for further investigation and legal processing.
Investigators reportedly established that four of the suspects had remained in Thailand beyond the validity of their visas, with alleged overstay periods ranging from 782 to 1,052 days.
Authorities said Tounkara allegedly overstayed his visa by 913 days, while Anikpe, Onyechere and Edochie were accused of remaining in the country for 856 days, 1,052 days and 782 days, respectively, after the expiration of their travel permits. The four have been charged with visa overstay offences.
The remaining three Nigerians — Uzoije, Ewulu and Umunna — were reportedly unable to provide valid travel documents or official records showing lawful entry into Thailand.
They have consequently been charged with entering and residing in the Southeast Asian country without proper immigration authorisation.
Thailand’s Tourist Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Saksira Pheuk-um, said the operation was carried out on the directive of National Police Chief, Police General Kittirat Phanphet, as part of intensified efforts to identify and prosecute foreigners residing illegally in the country.
The latest arrests add to a series of immigration enforcement actions involving foreign nationals in Thailand.
Earlier this year, another Nigerian, Ubasinachi Ekechukwu, was arrested after Thai immigration authorities reportedly used artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition technology to detect that he had overstayed his visa.
The seven suspects are expected to face immigration proceedings before being deported in accordance with Thai immigration laws if found to have violated the country’s regulations.
